Denise Juneau on the campaign trail in Montana. Photo by Denise Juneau for Congress
Changing of the Northern Cheyenne political guard
By Clara Caufield
Native Sun News Today Columnist
nativesunnews.today I surely join many of my tribal kinsmen in lamenting the national election results. Other pundits will surely say it better than I, but in Montana, the Denise Juneau, Native American candidate for Congress vs. Ryan Zinke race was especially disappointing. In my opinion, Ms. Juneau is one of the brightest and best that Native Americans have to offer, a view apparently not shared by the majority of Montana voters where she gained only about 40% of the vote.. But, in a state like Montana the problem could very well just that – she was a very “up-front” Native American woman, a somewhat “golly” candidate and an acknowledged gay person. We, the Native people and many Democrats love her, but too much of Montana continues to be of another persuasion. No matter that Juneau graduated from Harvard, did a stellar job as the Superintendent of Public Instruction, showing compassion to all Montanans, especially the youth. In the end gate, she’s still handicapped in this region of the west simply by being an Indian. As one of my old Cheyenne male friends wryly predicted “They ain’t gonna elect a squaw in Montana;” harsh words, but in the end accurate. On the other hand, the Northern Cheyenne tribal election results largely made my heart sing. L. Jace Killsback, a young man similar in age to my own children was overwhelmingly elected as Tribal President in his third bid for such office. As an old political warhorse here on the “Rez,” I vigorously opposed his first two efforts. Yet, he gained political prominence at a young age and by virtue of youth, was a little cocky. In retrospect, who am I to criticize that? Being elected to office at a young age tends to encourage that attitude as I well know from personal experience. Hubris or humility is an interesting concept. The Northern Cheyenne have a way of teaching young people about that and I am pleased to report that L. Jace Killsback has heeded that lesson, publicly acknowledging youthful brashness while inviting more consultation and cooperation from all corners of the Rez. In a public debate hosted by the tribal college and then posted on YouTube, he acknowledged that he was only 25 years old when first elected, and pretty full of himself. Perhaps losing two previous Presidential bids tempered him, as he suggested.
Read the rest of the story on the Native Sun News Today website: Changing of the Northern Cheyenne political guard (Clara Caufield can be reached @acheyenneoice@gmail.com). Copyright permission Native Sun News
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